Rutte sets NATO's priority on Ukraine's defense and increasing allied military spending

Mark Rutte, the new NATO Secretary General, emphasizes that his main goal is ensuring Ukraine's sovereignty against ongoing military aggression. He aims to increase NATO's collective defense, advocate for greater military spending by allies, and strengthen ties with third-party nations.

New leadership outlines priorities on defense, collective security, and global partnerships.

Rutte stresses the importance of supporting Ukraine's sovereignty, boosting NATO's defense spending, and expanding international partnerships.

Rutte, NATO, Ukraine, defense spending, military strategy, alliances

BRUSELAS, 1 (EUROPA PRESS)-The former Dutch Prime Minister and designated NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte, stated this Tuesday that his main priority at the head of the Alliance will be to ensure that Ukraine prevails as a nation against Russian military aggression, in addition to mobilizing greater defense spending by the allies.

In remarks alongside the outgoing Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, just minutes before taking over the organization, the Dutch leader indicated that his first priority will be to maintain support for Kyiv in the face of the invasion ordered in February 2022 by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“The priorities will remain: Ukraine—we have to ensure that it prevails as a sovereign, independent, and democratic nation,” Rutte affirmed. He will take over this Tuesday from Stoltenberg, who has led NATO for a decade during which the organization has modernized and implemented significant military changes in response to the threat posed by Russia with the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Rutte also identified among his main tasks the strengthening of NATO's collective defense and the increase in military spending by the allies, as well as deepening NATO's relations with third countries. "Something that will not change is the core of our organization, which is to ensure we defend our nations," he added.

For his part, Stoltenberg praised Rutte's experience during a decade at the helm of coalition governments in the Netherlands. "He knows how to build consensus," Stoltenberg emphasized, underscoring that he is leaving NATO "in good hands."

In this regard, Stoltenberg noted that Rutte will be a great successor and highlighted that, during his decade at NATO's command, the organization has evolved to strengthen itself militarily, increase defense spending, and integrate new allies like Montenegro, North Macedonia, Finland, and Sweden.

He also emphasized that, during this time, the organization has moved from providing "marginal support" to Ukraine in 2014 to offering "massive support" to Kyiv in the context of Russian aggression. "NATO has changed as the whole world has changed. Rutte has been part of this evolution as Prime Minister of one of the allied countries," he stated.